Well over half of the 1976 net growing stock incre- 

 ment was on softwood species. Again, more than half 

 of this, as well as 48 percent of the net hardwood 

 growth, was in the South. 



Net annual sawtimber growth by species group 

 showed the same regional patterns as growing stock. 

 That is, about half of the total net annual sawtimber 

 growth was in the South and well over half on 

 softwoods. 



Some 12.5 billion cubic feet or nearly 58 percent of 

 the net annual growth in 1976 was on lands in farmer 

 and other private ownerships. Moreover, this owner- 

 ship accounted for nearly half of the net softwood 

 growth and more than 70 percent of that of 

 hardwoods. 



Forest industry lands ranked next in importance 

 — accounting for almost a fifth of the net growth. 

 Another 3.1 billion cubic feet, most of which was 

 softwoods, was on the National Forests. The other 



public ownerships accounted for the remaining 9 per- 

 cent of the increment. 



The distribution of net annual growth of sawtimber 

 by ownership is approximately the same as that for 

 growing stock. 



Net annual growth of growing stock increased 

 from 14 to 21.7 billion cubic feet between 1952 and 

 1976, a rise of 56 percent (table 6.19). Most of this 

 increase was in the 14 years from 1962 to 1976. There 

 were similar percentage increases for both softwoods 

 and hardwoods. Sawtimber growth increased some- 

 what more rapidly, rising more than 63 percent in the 

 1952-76 period (table 6.20). 



Net annual growth on a per acre basis also has been 

 rising steadily on all ownerships and in all regions. 

 Since 1952, the average per acre has increased from 

 28 to 45 cubic feet, a rise of 17 cubic feet or 61 per- 

 cent. Farmer and other private ownerships showed 

 the greatest improvement, with the average rising by 



Table 6.19— A/ef annual growth and removals of growing stock in the United States, by species 



group and section, 1976 



(Million cubic feet) 



Item 



All species 



Softwoods 



Hardwoods 





























1952 



1962 



1970 



1976 



1952 



1962 



1970 



1976 



1952 



1962 



1970 



1976 



North: 



























Net growth 



3,717 



4,423 



4,929 



5,346 



974 



1,211 



1,336 



1,555 



2,743 



3,212 



3,593 



3,791 



Removals 



1,903 



1,928 



2,313 



2,495 



624 



528 



584 



692 



1,279 



1,400 



1,729 



1,803 



Ratio of growth 



























to removals 



2.0 



2.3 



2.1 



2.1 



1.6 



2.3 



2.3 



2.2 



2.1 



2.3 



2.1 



2.1 



South: 



























Net growth 



6,683 



8,093 



9,895 



11,107 



3,641 



4,698 



5,626 



6,198 



3,042 



3,395 



4,269 



4,909 



Removals 



5,855 



5,656 



6,642 



6,714 



3,123 



2,823 



3,780 



4,484 



2,732 



2,833 



2,862 



2,230 



Ratio of growth 



























to removals 



1.1 



1.4 



1.5 



1.7 



1.2 



1.7 



1.5 



1.4 



1.1 



1.2 



1.5 



2.2 



Rocky Mountain and 



























Great Plains: 



























Net growth 



1,187 



1,357 



1,573 



1,733 



1,100 



1,257 



1,454 



1,594 



87 



100 



119 



139 



Removals 



568 



760 



911 



867 



534 



738 



890 



843 



34 



22 



21 



24 



Ratio of growth 



























to removals 



2.1 



1.8 



1.7 



2.0 



2.1 



1.7 



1.6 



1.9 



2.6 



4.5 



5.7 



5.8 



Pacific Coast: 



























Net growth 



2,326 



2,820 



3,362 



3,478 



1,969 



2,377 



2,823 



2,937 



357 



443 



539 



541 



Removals 



3,536 



3,615 



4,182 



4,153 



3,489 



3,534 



4,065 



4,027 



47 



81 



117 



126 



Ratio of growth 



























to removals 



.7 



.8 



.8 



.8 



.6 



.7 



.7 



.7 



7.6 



5.5 



4.6 



4.3 



Total, United States: 



























Net growth 



13,913 



16,693 



19,759 



21 ,664 



7,684 



9,543 



11,239 



12,284 



6,229 



7,150 



8,520 



9,380 



Removals 



11,862 



11,959 



14,048 



14,229 



7,770 



7,623 



9,319 



10,046 



4,092 



4,336 



4,729 



4,183 



Ratio of growth 



























to removals 



1.2 



1.4 



1.4 



1.5 



1.0 



1.3 



1.2 



1.2 



1.5 



1.6 



1.8 



2.2 



Note: Data for 1952 and 1962 differ from data published in earlier reports 

 because of adjustments based on newer information from remeasured Forest 



Survey plots. Data for all years are "trend level" estimates. 

 Source: See source note table 6.13. 



233 



